PHOTO: The inaugural party at The Giving Kitchen on May 17 drew 18 ladies and made 35 bags of food to be delivered to seniors, the homebound or people in need.

Chabad of NE Portland 
Jewishnortheast.com | 503-309-4490
AREA OF SERVICE: Building Jewish identity, education
2022 ALLOCATION: $8,700
SERVICES: To put every Jew in Portland’s northeast and inner east side in touch with their neshama (Jewish soul). We do this by providing services and programs that enrich lives in a welcoming and inclusive environment, and by making Judaism more accessible and encouraging them to pursue Jewish living and learning. Chabad of NE Portland welcomes every person, wherever they are in life.

Last year, Chabad of NE Portland partnered with Maimonides Jewish Day School to purchase an 8,700-square-foot former preschool at 4635 NE 9th Ave., enabling both the center and school to expand programming on Portland’s east side. The ADA-accessible, two-story building has ample space for both the school and the NE Chabad Jewish Center. 
In addition, NE Chabad Executive Director Rabbi Chaim Wilhelm says the 5,000 square feet of outdoor space will be available for camp and afterschool programs.
His wife, NE Chabad Educational Director Mushka Wilhelm, says the kitchen has become a wonderful space for the teens and other volunteers to prepare food for seniors and the homebound served by Chabad’s Chesed (kindness) Connection. 
The kitchen and adjacent community space are also the hub of The Giving Kitchen, a new program that has excited the imagination of both the Wilhelms and the community they serve.  
On May 17, a group of women gave the program a test run when Sarah Rosenberg Brown hosted a party for her birthday. After partying and cooking, each woman took home a challah for her own family and one bag of food they had prepared to give to someone in need. The other food bags were delivered the next day by Chesed Connection volunteers. 
“I’m excited people may see this and want to do their own party,” says Rabbi Wilhelm. “People really want to feel they are helping other people.”
“The Giving Kitchen is focused on the experience of giving food to other people,” adds Rabbi Wilhelm. “The idea is giving people the opportunity to help somebody in a very physical way – to cook food for someone.”
Rabbi Wilhelm says the support NE Chabad receives from the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland allows for increased community impact. 
Volunteers are always needed for the Chesed Connection. For information on volunteering, visit jewishnortheast.com/chessedconnection.